Dispensing carton

ABSTRACT

A dispensing carton is provided with a closure panel having a removable area therein defined by an endless line of perforations or cut score lines forming a weakened line of separation. The weakened line is protected by a patch of film secured to the removable area and to the panel along an endless line of adhesion completely encircling the weakened line of separation.

United States Patent [191 Faller 1 Nov. 11, 1975 4] DISPENSING CARTON[75] Inventor: Rudolph A. Faller, Edina, Minn.

[73] Assignee: Hoerner Waldorf Corporation, Saint Paul, Minn.

[22] Filed: Sept. 5, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 503,393

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 335.707. Feb.26, 1973.

Primary E.\'aminer-Stan1ey H. Tollberg Attorney. Agent, or Firm-Jerry F.Best [57] ABSTRACT A dispensing carton is provided with a closure panelhaving a removable area there-in defined by an endless line ofperforations or cut score lines forming a weakened line of separation.The weakened line is protected by a patch of film secured to theremovable area and to the panel along an endless line of adhesioncompletely encircling the weakened line of separation.

2 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. 221/63; 206/498 X [51] Int. Cl. A47K 10/20 [58] Field ofSearch 206/494, 498; 227/51 D, 227/17 S, 43; 221/44-63 [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3.021.002 2/1962 Guyer 221/63 X c 1 14 I I II I I i I 30 US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 SheetlofZ 3,918,608

Z6 F/G. 6

U.S. Patent N0v.11, 1975 Sheet20f 2 3,918,608

DISPENSING CARTON This is a division, of application Ser. No. 335,707,filed Feb. 26, 1973 now abandoned.

This invention relates to an improvement in dispensing carton, and dealsparticularly with a carton of the type used to dispense tissues and thelike.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION For a considerable number of years cartonshave been produced for containing facial tissues and the like. Many ofthese cartons are provided with an elongated aperture in the upper panelthrough which the tissues may be removed one at a time. The aperturesare usually defined be weakened lines of separation so that the tissuesare completely enclosed until the time the area defined by the weakenedlines is removed. The dispensing apertures are normally large enough topermit the insertion of a finger and thumb into the carton to grasp theuppermost tissue. Alternatively, the tissues are interleafed together sothat the removal of one tissue would pull a portion of the next tissuepartially from the carton.

During recent years, it has been proposed to provide tissues which areimpregnated or saturated with solutions of one type or another so thatthe tissues may be used in the cleaning or polishing of various objects.Certain of these tissues are impregnated or saturated with an oilymaterial which would wick into the paperboard and cause discolorationthereof. Accordingly, a package has been proposed which includes aplastic tray formed of a material into which the oily substance will notpenetrate. In order to provide a dispensing opening for dispensing thetissues one at a time, the tray is provided with a paperboard panel, theunder surface of which is coated with a film through which the oilysubstances will not penetrate. However, in providing the potentialopening for dispensing the product, it is necessary to perforate thecover panel, or to at least cut score the cover panel from oppositesurfaces so that an area of the panel may be detached. This area ofperforations or cut score lines will permit the oily material topenetrate the paperboard and cause staining or deterioration of theboard. It is an object of the present invention to provide a means ofpreventing the penetration of the oily substance into the paperboard inthe area of the perforations or cut score lines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I have found that if a layer or film such aplastic is adhered to the inner surface of the removable area of thepaperboard, and is further adhered to a narrow area of the inner surfaceof the panel completely encircling the removable area, the oily liquidcannot wick into the paperboard in the area of perforations previous toremoving the plug-like area which is detachable. Due to the fact thatthe protecting patch or film is secured to the cover panel only along anorrow band of connection, the patch will detach from the portion of thecover panel outward of the detachable plug when the plug is moved out ofthe plane of the remainder of the panel. For example, by pressing thedetachable area downwardly into the carton, the protective patch. willbecome detached from the cover panel outwardly of the plug, so that theplug and patch may be readily withdrawn through the dispensing openingthus produced.

For best results, the adhesive connecting the plastic film or patch tothe portion of the cover panel outwardly of the potential opening shouldbe an adhesive which tends to flow such as, for example, a pressuresensitive adhesive. It is also desirable that the film be more fimlybonded to the area of the plug or removable portion more securely thanto the portion of the cover outwardly of the removable area. This may beaccomplished either by securing the patch to the plug over a relativelywide area of adhesive connection, and securing the patch to the portionof the cover panel outwardly of the removable area along a continuousline of adhesion which is just wide enough to be continuous and forminga continuous barrier, or else by leaving the under surface of the plugportion uncoated, and using an adhesive which will secure the patch muchmore fimly to the uncoated plug than to the coated inner surface of thecover panel. Many adhesives will secure a plastic film to the surface ofuncoated paperboard to provide a tearing bond, but will provide a muchless effective bond with coated paperboard. In any event, the patch issecured to the plug with a bond which is sufficient to detach the patchfrom the portions of the cover panel externally of the removable areawhen the removable area is either pressed downwardly into the carton orpulled upwardly therefrom.

In its preferred form, the package comprises a tray form of rigidplastic sheet and having outwardly extending peripheral flanges alongits upper edges. A paperboard panel is heat sealed to the upper surfacesof the flanges to form a cover. This paperboard cover panel is coated orfilm laminated with a film compatible with the plastic forming the trayfor heat sealing purposes, and which is imperious to the solution whichhas been impregnated or saturated into the tissues. A potential openingis provided in the cover panel usually in the form of a continuous lineof perforations defining a plug or removable area. A patch is secured tothe under surface of the panel, the patch being secured to the removablearea and to the under surface of the cover panel along a norrow band ofadhesion continuously and completely encircling the removable area. Theadhesion of the patch to the plug is much stronger than the adhesion ofthe patch to the portion of the cover panel outwardly of the patch. As aresult, as the plug is detached from the cover panel by severing thepaperboard along the perforation, the film will become detached from thearea of the cover panel outwardly of the plug, and the plug may beremoved with the film attached thereto.

It is a feature of the present invention that the package may includeflanges hingedly connected to the edges thereof, and the plastic traymay be placed in a paperboard tray having upstanding side walls to whichthe cover panel flanges may be secured. The package may also comprise aseries of flanges hingedly connected to the edges of the cover panelwhich may be folded downwardly and sealed to the under surface of theplastic tray.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention willbe more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification andclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is perspective view of thepreferred form of the package in completed form.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the package after the plug and patchhave been removed therefrom.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the cover panel showing a protectivecoating pattern applied thereto.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 after the adhesive has been appliedand the patch attached.

FIG. 5 is a partial section through the package showing the patchadhered to the uncoated plug and to a norrow area of the coated portionof the cover panel.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing a construction in which theentire inner surface of the cover panel is coated.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing the plug in depressedposition, and the patch detached from the surface of the cover panelexternally of the removable area.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view from which the outer paperboard tray maybe formed.

FIG. 9 illustrates the cover panel about to be applied to the plastictray, and showing in dotted outline the position of the outer paperbordtray into which the covered plastic tray is inserted.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the modified form of enclosing carton.

FIG. 11 shows the carton of FIG. 10 after coating has been appliedthereon.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the patch and plug after removal fromthe carton.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view through a modified form of construction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the simplest form a theinvention, the package comprises a tray which is indicated in general bythe letter A and which is formed of a material such as rigid plasticfilm capable of supporting a series of tissues such a B impregnated witha material which would normally be absorbed into paperboard. In theparticular combination described, the tissues are impregnated orsaturated in an oily substance which would normally penetrate into, andstain, uncoated paperboard. The package also includes a cover panelwhich is indicated in general by the letter C. As will be described thecover panel C may be provided with peripheral flanges which may besealed to an outer paperboard tray D or which may be secured to thebottom of the plastic tray A so as to enclose or partially enclose thetray A.

In the arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5 of the drawings, thecover C includes a top panels 9 which is generally rectangular in formand includes a continuous line of perforations 10 which are, in theparticular form illustrated, of generally oval shape to define aremovable area or plug 11 which, when removed, forms a dispensingopening in the cover panel. In this form of construction, the undersurface of the top panel 9 is processed with a coating indicated by thebroken lines 12, this area coating the entire under surface of the panel9 with the exception of the area outlined by the perforated lines 10.The coating must prevent absorption of the oily material into paperboardand which perferably may be heat sealed to the tray flange. Elongatedflanges 13 which may be considered side flanges are hingedly connectedto the panel 9 along parallel fold lines 14. End flanges 15 are hingedlyconnected to the remaining opposite sides of the cover panel 9 alongparallel fold lines 16. As indicated in FIG. 4 of the drawings, arectangular strip of plastic film, which, for the purpose ofdescription, may be considered a patch overlies the entire area definedby the perforated line 10. A band 17 of adhesive completely encirclesthe removable area defined by the perforated line 10 to provide a narrowarea of adhesive connection between the patch and the cover panel 9. Asindicated by the dotted lines 19, the major portion of the plug 11 iscoated with adhesive for adhering the patch 18 to the under surface ofthe plug 11. The adhesive which provides a movable bond between the lidand the patch such as pressure sensitive adhesive which is compatiblewith the product in the tray. In view of the fact that the patch is madeof flexible material, and the bond between the patch and the uncoatedsurface of the plug 11 provides a much better bond with the film thanthe encircling band of adhesive 17, the deflection of the plug 11 out ofthe plan of the cover panel 9 will pull the patch free of connectionwith the portion of the cover panel outwardly of the perforated line 10,and the film will remain attached to the patch.

While not limiting the patch to a particular material, it usuallycomprises a flexible film of polypropylene, polyethylene, mylar, PVC orthe like. It could also be a co-extruded film such as PVC and PVDC. Afilm or laminated foil and paper has also been successfully used.

FIG. 8 of the drawings shows a tray of paperboard or the like which maybe used to enclose the plastic tray A. The tray D. includes a bottompanel 20 hingedly connected along parallel fold lines 21 to end walls22. The panel 20 is also connected along the remaining edges by foldlines 23 to side walls 24. Corner flaps 25 are foldably connected to theends of the side walls 24 along extensions of the fold line 21. The trayis formed by securing the corner flaps 25 to the end walls 22.Obviously, this can be done by adhering the corner flaps in place, or byproviding locking tabs for connecting the side and end walls in rightangular relation to the bottom panel 20.

The trays A include a bottom panel 26, upwardly and outwardly inclinedside and end walls such as 27 and 29, and an outwardly projectingperipheral flange 30 about the entire periphery of the side and endwalls 27 and 29. The tray is filled with tissues or other product B. Thecover D is placed upon the flange 30 so that the periphery of the flangesubstantially coincides with the fold lines 23 and 21 which define theedges of the top panel 20. A heating die is applied to heat sealing themarginal edges of the cover panel to the underlying flange 30.

The cover D. together with the tray A and its contents B then placed inthe tray D in the manner indicated in dotted outline in FIG. 9 of thedrawings. The tray D is shown in dotted outline in FIG. 9 because of thefact that the tray A is not placed therein until after the cover C hasbeen attached by heat sealing to the tray A. Adhesive is then appliedeither to the under surfaces of the cover flanges 13 and 15, or to theside walls of the tray D, and the flanges 13 and 15 are secured in facecontact with the walls of the paperboard tray D. Alternatively, if theentire surface of the cover C is coated, it may be heat sealed to thewalls of the tray D.

The sealed container as shown in FIG. 1 is shipped and stored in theusual manner. During this time, the

patch 18 prevents contact between the contents of the tray A and theperforated areas of the cover C. The narrow band of adhesive 17 iscontinuous, and thus uneffected by the substance with which the tissuesare impregnated. Thus the liquid cannot come in contact with theperforated areas by passage between the edges of the patch 18 and thetop panel 9 of the cover C.

When it is desired to dispense the contents of the package, the plug 11is pressed downwardly to detach the plug 11 from the remainder of thetop panel 9. As the plug is moved out of the plane of the cover panel 9,the patch 18 pulls away from the cover panel along the narrow band ofattachments 17. The detached plug and patch may the be removed from thepackage through the opening formed by the removal of the plug 11.Alternatively, a portion of the plug 11 may be pushed downwardly so thatit may be engaged by the fingers, and the plug and patch may be pulledupwardly through the dispensing opening as the patch becomes detachedfrom the cover panel.

It has been found that in many instances it is not necessary to leavethe area of the covered panel within the perforated outline l0 uncoated.This is particularly true where the plug is separated by pressing theplug portion downwardly to detach the patch 18 from the portions of thecover panel 9 surrounding the perforated line 10. FIG. 6 indicates astructure of this type in which the entire surface of the blank iscoated. Because of the fact that the plug is moved out of the plane ofthe remainder of the top panel 9, and normally because of the fact thatthe patch 18 is attached to the surface of the plug over a greater areaof attachment than is used to connected the patch to the portion of thecover panel externally of the perforated line 9, the patch will remainattached to the plug 11, and can be removed in the same manner as hasbeen described.

FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 disclose a modified form of construction in whichthe tray D is eliminated. Because of the similarity of the structure,similar identifying numerals will be used. As indicated in FIG. 10, thecover for the tray A includes a main cover panel 9a having an endlessline of perforations or other weakened lines of i separation 10a whichdefine a removable plug 11a. The panel 9a is connected along parallelfold lines 14a to side wall panels 13a and the panel is connected alongthe remaining parallel edges as defined by fold lines 16a to end wallpanels a. The difference between the cover shown in FIG. 10 and thatshown in FIG. 3 lies in the fact that anchoring flanges 33 are hingedlyconnected to the end panels 15a along fold lines 34, and anchoringflanges 35 are connected to the side wall panels 13a along fold lines36. With this arrangement, the anchoring flanges 33 and 35 may be heatsealed or otherwise secured to the under surface of the tray A. Themanner in which this is accomplished is indicated in FIG. 13 of thedrawings.

As in the previous construction, the patch 18 of plastic film or thelike is adhered to the under surface of the panel 9a by adhesiveextending over the surface of the plug 11a, and along a continuous lineof adhesion 17 which completely encircles the perforated line 100. Inother words, the structure is similar to that shown in FIG. 6 with theexception of the fact that anchoring flanges are hinged to the sidewalls of the cover memher so that the tray D may be eliminated. It willbe noted that the anchoring flanges 35 are shorter than the side walls13a so as to fit between the anchoring flanges As is indicated in FIG.10, the perforated line 10a may be interrupted by a fold line 37extending along one side of the plug 11a. As a result, the plug 11a ishingedly connected to the top panel so that it may be detached onlyalong the opposite side and the ends of the plug. As a result, insteadof being completely detached from the cover panel, it may be hinged up,pulling a portion of the patch through the aperture thus formed. Themarginal edges of the patch may be refolded back into the carton ifdesired to reseal the opening when the dispensing operation iscompleted.

In any event, the arrangement is such that the patch remains attached tothe plug, and may be either removed in its entirety from the cover ofthe top panel 9 or 9a, and is detached throughout at least the majorportion of its periphery from the under surface of the cover panel asthe plug is removed. The patch remains attached to the plug either dueto the larger area of adhesion or because the adhesion is more effectivewhen used between the uncoated paperboard and the film.

In accordance with the Patent Statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my improvement in DISPENSING CARTON;and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, Idesire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within thescope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

I claim:

1. A dispensing carton for a product including:

a closure panel,

an open topped tray including said closure panel and marginally securedthereto,

a removable area spaced from the edges of said panel and defined by anendless weakened line of separation,

a film underlying said panel and secured to said removable area andportions of said panel outwardly of said removable area,

an endless line of adhesive outwardly of said weakened line ofseparation completely encircling the same,

said cover panel including opposed side walls hinged to opposite sidesthereof, and anchoring flanges hinged to said opposed side walls andsecured to the under surface of said open topped tray.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which the cover panel is rectangular,and including end walls hingedly connected to the ends of said coverpanel, and anchoring flanges hinged to said end walls and secured to theunder surface of said open topped tray.

1. A dispensing carton for a product including: a closure panel, an opentopped tray including said closure panel and marginally secured thereto,a removable area spaced from the edges of said panel and defined by anendless weakened line of separation, a film underlying said panel andsecured to said removable area and portions of said panel outwardly ofsaid removable area, an endless line of adhesive outWardly of saidweakened line of separation completely encircling the same, said coverpanel including opposed side walls hinged to opposite sides thereof, andanchoring flanges hinged to said opposed side walls and secured to theunder surface of said open topped tray.
 2. The structure of claim 1 andin which the cover panel is rectangular, and including end wallshingedly connected to the ends of said cover panel, and anchoringflanges hinged to said end walls and secured to the under surface ofsaid open topped tray.